Page 19 of Ashes of Us
I couldn't look at him. "I cheated on her."
The words hung in the air between us. Scott didn't say anything for a long moment.
"How long?" he asked finally.
"Four months."
"Jesus Christ." He set down his beer, hard enough that it sloshed over the rim. "Four months? While she was planning your wedding?"
"I know?—"
"Do you? Because from where I'm sitting, it looks like you have no fucking idea what you just did."
I finally looked at him. His jaw was tight, but his eyes weren't angry. Just... tired. Or maybe disappointed. Like he was looking at a stranger.
"It wasn't supposed to happen," I said. "It just—things with Piper were hard, and Jenna was there, and?—"
"Wait." Scott held up a hand. "Jenna? Jenna from your station?"
I didn't answer. Didn't need to.
"Oh, dude." He shook his head slowly. "The new girl? The one you introduced us to at the Christmas party?"
"Yeah."
"Jesus fucking Christ." He rubbed his face with both hands. "You cheated on Piper with someone you work with. Someone you see every single day. Someone who knows your whole crew, your captain, everyone. And isn’t she your subordinate?"
"It wasn't supposed to—things with Piper were hard, and I just?—"
"You keep saying that,” Scott said quietly. “Like if you repeat it enough, it’s going to sound like a reason instead of an excuse. It’s bullshit and you know it."
“Scott…”
He leaned forward. "You think marriage is easy? You think Kelly and I don't have hard days? You think we don't get tired or stressed or feel disconnected sometimes?"
"That's not what I meant?—"
"That's exactly what it is. You had problems with Piper, you should have talked to her. Gone to therapy. Figured it out like a fucking adult. You don't get to use 'things were hard' as an excuse to stick your dick in someone else."
I flinched. "I know that now."
"Do you?" He shook his head. "Mom loved Piper. Still loves her, actually. Dad loved her. Weallloved her. She was good for you. She made you better. And you threw that away for what?"
I didn't have an answer. What had it been for? Late nights at Jenna's apartment when I should have been home. Stolen moments in my office when I should have been working. The thrill of it, the way it felt like something just for me, an escape from wedding planning and schedules and expectations.
At the time, it had felt like freedom.
Now it just felt pathetic.
My throat felt tight. "I didn't mean?—"
"I don't care what you meant. I care what you did." He finished his beer in one long pull and stood up. "Was it worth it?"
I opened my mouth. Closed it. Had no answer.
Scott pulled out his wallet and threw a twenty on the bar. "Mom wants you to call her. But if I were you? I'd wait. She's really upset. Dad too." He paused. "And for what it's worth? I'm disappointed in you. I thought you were better than this."
He walked out without looking back.
